His father was a lawyer and wanted him to follow suit; forcing him to study law despite his artistic talent and sending him to Paris, where he was apprenticed to a notary. While there, he visited the museums and became determined to be an artist. His parents cut off his financial support, but he was able to find employment managing a small factory in Nancy. This enabled him to purchase the painting supplies he needed.[1]
In 1874, he held his first solo exhibit at the Salon des Artistes Français. He was awarded honorable mention at the Salon of 1881 and, two years later, became a member. This was followed by a First Class medal in 1884 and a Second Class medal in 1885.[2]
He painted in several ports along the Atlantic coast and spent a year working in Dordrecht. He participated in decorating several pavilions at the Exposition Universelle (1889) and was presented with a silver medal.[2] The following year, he exhibited in Munich. In 1892, he was named a Knight in the Legion of Honor.[3]
In 1904, he married Jeanne Lauvernay [fr], also a painter, who was thirty-one years his junior. Until the beginning of World War I, he exhibited internationally and was awarded a silver medal at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909.[2] Overall, he is believed to have created almost 800 paintings.[1]
Village Street
As did many artists during the period, he also provided illustrations and cartoons for periodicals; notably the satirical journals, Le Frou-frou [fr], L'Assiette au Beurre and Le Rire.
